Home Hacking Projects for Geeks

15

Chapter 1, Automate a Light

Extensions

The most basic and common use of X10 controllers is to turn lights on and

off. However, X10 is extremely flexible, and the wide variety of X10 devices

allows you to remotely control everything from dryers to window blinds to

your home’s thermostat. Here are some other common uses for X10:

• If you have a switch in an illogical place, replace it with an X10-con-

trolled switch and add a wireless controller to the wall where the switch

should be.

• If want a switch to control multiple electrical outlets, replace it with a

two-way X10 controller and add lamp modules to allow it to control

remote lamps.

• If you hate getting up in the middle of the night to turn off a light some-

where in the house, replace all your light switches with X10 switches

and use the All Lights Off switch on your controller.

Exhibit A: Bill of Materials

The following list shows the parts that I purchased specifically for this proj-

ect, though you can choose to substitute parts from other manufacturers.

All parts are available from large hardware stores or home-automation web

sites. The part numbers listed can be referenced at http://www.smarthome.

com.

Item Quantity Approximate cost Part number

X10 wireless

transceiver

1 $20 and up 4005X or 400s

X10 motion

detector

1 $20 and up MS14A-C or MS13A

X10 switch 1 $13 and up 2031 or similar

Exhibit A

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